Diacore draws 6000 runners

SHARE | Sunday, 15 March 2015 | By Ontametse Sugar

A participant at last years Diacore Marathon

Elite athletes from Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Namibia

The Diacore marathon that takes place next weekend has a record number of registered participants. The event takes place on a Sunday, with the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) being the starting and finishing place. The registration has increased from 3000 participants from 2012 when Diacore adopted the race to a whopping 5778 this year. When looking back at what they have accomplished so far organisers of the marathon said their most notable contribution was the P400 000 donation to Gaborone Squash Club, allowing the club the much needed resources to completely renovate their facilities. They also revealed that over a P1 million has been awarded to over 30 deserving charities in conjunction with co-sponsors Stanbic, Mascom and Gemmological Institute of America GIA. The publicist for the event, Thabo Makgato, emphasised their holistic approach to national sports and athletics development, with squash being a perfect testament to that. He referred to the relationship that they have with sports bodies as a synergy between different sporting codes and a shining example of how two initiatives that are geared towards health and wellness can work together to achieve so much more than they can do individually. Minerals, Energy and Water resources Minister Kitso Mokaila - who has been an avid supporter and ambassador of the Diacore marathon - is expected to be available at the race as usual. In 2014 the race raised a record breaking P615, 000.00 and this year they are targeting to exceed that. “All proceeds from the Diacore Gaborone Marathon are awarded to charity and as such Diacore and its co-sponsors are proud to support Botswana through sport, education and charity,” he said. Other sponsors for the event include Coca Cola and Grand Palm Hotel. Among the elite athletes that will be at the race are Hosea Frans, Shuuya Elifas, Tjivambi Aron and Neitembu Johannes all from Namibia. From Ethiopia there will be Abebe Adem, Rahwa Kidane, and Temesgen Hailu while from Zimbabwe there will be Gilbert Mutandiro. Local off road athletes from local clubs will also grace the event. These include the likes of Raobene Ramoseka from BDF Recreational Club. On whether they do have any special elite athlete that they invited, Makgato said they used to bring one elite athlete whom they will register for and take care of all their costs, but have since stopped that about two years back because costs. He said if things go on well this year, they will have a local elite athlete fully sponsored by them. On who they are looking at Makgato said he can’t reveal that now because they are still trying to get in contact with the athlete. The race numbers will be collected on Friday and Saturday at GICC where the race will start at 6am.